| Autism is a very complex neurodevelopmental | | | | later tested on lab rats and showed that prenatal |
| disorder and due to this face there are many | | | | exposure to these may contribute to an autistic child |
| proposed theories on the causes of autism. Even | | | | being born. |
| though these theories can explain some cases, it's | | | | Stress |
| hard come up with an exact case for this disorder. | | | | Stress is believed by some to be one of the leading |
| What makes autism a very special case is that there | | | | causes of autism and with all the other research on |
| are more theories that come from a controversial | | | | the effects of stress; it seems highly probable that |
| angle, such as vaccinations, even though there isn't | | | | this could be the case. Studies both in humans and |
| any convincing scientific evidence to back this up. | | | | animals have shown that stress during pregnancy can |
| Genetics | | | | actually lead to disruption in brain development. |
| Genetics is considered one of the most likely reasons | | | | Ultrasound |
| autism occurs. It is estimated that 90% of autism is | | | | This is one of the causes that fit into the more |
| a result of genetics. As you know, genetics is a very | | | | controversial category. There was a science related |
| complex science that is relatively new in our age of | | | | study on ultrasound waves can actually disrupt |
| science. It isn't believed that the particular genes that | | | | statistically small amount of neurons in neuronal |
| cause this disorder are inherited, but that they | | | | migration. It is believed to be highly unlikely that this |
| actually are a mutation. | | | | would be a cause of autism. |
| Even though this is believed to be the best theory | | | | Toxicity From Mercury |
| on the causes of autism, the actual explanation for | | | | Another suggested cause, that is gaining a lot of |
| why these mutations happen is unknown. Some | | | | attention, is the amount of mercury we ingest into |
| scientists have theorized that it comes from | | | | our bodies. The FDA actually released a report |
| environmental effects and others believe it is a | | | | warning children and the elderly to limit the amount of |
| chemical imbalance that causes some parts of the | | | | intake on marine foods like tuna. There are other |
| brain to overgrow. | | | | ways of getting too much mercury, such as living to |
| Pesticides | | | | close to a coal plant. |
| This happens to be one of the prenatal environment | | | | Studies have shown that the rates of autism actually |
| theories. A study by the California Department of | | | | were much higher for those people that live around |
| Public Health reviewed pregnant women that lived | | | | mercury sources such as coal. |
| near fields that had pesticide being sprayed. The type | | | | These are the main causes of autism and I think |
| of pesticide was organochlorine pesticides dicofol and | | | | they deserve some attention to parents or soon to |
| endosulfan. The study concluded that these women | | | | be parents. When we get right down to the facts, |
| were several times more likely to have an autistic | | | | the medical community isn't quite sure what causes |
| child born. | | | | this disorder. I think it is apparent for your health and |
| There has been a lot of skepticism of this study, | | | | the health of your child to consider all these |
| mainly for the reason that there just weren't enough | | | | characteristics. |
| women involved in it. Some of the pesticides were | | | | |